Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with negatively charged filtration membranes and methods of making and using same, for example, in the concentration and/or filtration of dairy products. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: A filter material and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The manufacturing method includes hydrophilizing the filter material by supercritical fluid processing technology, so as to filter out white blood cells in the blood.

Abstract: The object is to provide a method for producing an alcohol by applying a multiple-effect method to improve the energy efficiency of the whole process. The object is achieved by a method for producing an alcohol including a concentration step of introducing a water-alcohol mixed solution into a multiple-effect distillation column for concentrating the same; a condensation step of introducing a vapor recovered from the top of the distillation column into a condenser for condensing the same; and a separation step of introducing the water-alcohol mixed solution condensed in the condensation step in a liquid phase into a membrane separation apparatus for separating the water and alcohol in the mixed solution.

Abstract: A process is provided for separation of light olefins and paraffins and particular for the separation of propylene and propane comprising sending at least one olefin/paraffin stream to a distillation column and a membrane unit to produce an olefin stream comprising at least 92 mol % olefin. In an embodiment of the invention where the membrane unit is placed downstream from the column which can produce propylene streams at polymer grade of over 99.5 mol % propylene.

Abstract: Polyethers (A), whose main chain essentially consists of repeating units of the formulae (1) and (2) in alternating order, are useful as an additive to a porous polymer membrane, or as the main polymer constituent of a porous polymer membrane, for stabilizing said membrane against detrimental effects of oxidizing agents and/or for improving the stability of a filtration module comprising said membrane against detrimental effects of oxidizing agents.

Abstract: To provide a hollow fiber type semipermeable membrane which achieves both water permeability and salt rejection ability at high level, so as to conduct, with small membrane area, a water treatment utilizing concentration difference from liquid mixture of high concentration and high osmotic pressure. A hollow fiber type semipermeable membrane comprising cellulose acetate, characterized in that, between an aqueous solution of 25° C. having sodium chloride concentration of 35,000 mg/L and freshwater of 25° C. having sodium chloride concentration of 0 g/L at 0 MPa, the permeation flow rate flown from inner side to the outer side of the hollow fiber type semipermeable membrane is 60 to 180 L/m2/day, the outer diameter of the hollow fiber type semipermeable membrane is 100 to 350 ?m, the inner diameter thereof is 50 to 250 ?m and the hollow ratio thereof is 24 to 51%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water treatment membrane including a support; and a polymer layer including a copolymer containing a hydrophobic repeating unit and a hydrophilic repeating unit including an ion exchange functional group on the support, wherein the polymer layer has ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 0.02 meq/g to 2.4 meq/g, and to a water treatment module, which have excellent salt rejection and permeate flow properties.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure are directed to methods, apparatuses and approaches involving the use of a moisture absorbing material (e.g., desiccant) to control moisture. As may be implemented consistent with one or more embodiments, moisture is removed from an environmental control module that includes a desiccant material contained within a package. Liquid is deposited inside the package and sealed with the desiccant in the package.

Abstract: Objects of the invention are to provide a blood purifier package which shows a less increase in the amounts of extracts from the materials of its blood purifier, particularly of its selective permeable separation membranes, attributed to the deterioration of the same materials with time after exposure to a radioactive ray or an electron ray, and which is therefore highly reliable in safety in use for hemocatharsis, and to provide a process for manufacturing the same. The present invention relates to a blood purifier package obtained by packing a blood purifier which comprises selectively permeable separation membranes as a main component, and this blood purifier package is characterized in that the blood purifier is packed and sealed together with an oxygen scavenger in a packaging material capable of shutting out an external air and a water vapor, under a condition of a relative humidity of above 40% RH at 25° C.

Abstract: A porous membrane with the membrane wall constructed of a hydrophobic polymer and a hydrophilic polymer, wherein when the membrane wall is divided into 3 sections in the film thickness direction to form region “a” containing one wall surface A of the membrane wall, region “c” containing the other wall surface C and region “b” between region “a” and region “c”, the hydrophilic polymer content ratio Ca in region “a” is greater than the hydrophilic polymer content ratio Cc in region “c”, and the mean pore size of the wall surface C is larger than the mean pore size of the wall surface A.

Abstract: A poly(arylethersulfone) polymer comprising recurring units derived from at least one aromatic dihalocompound comprising at least one —S(?O)2— group and at least one diol (D) comprising at least one cycloaliphatic moiety (M).

Abstract: There are provided a method of manufacturing a reverse osmosis membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane manufactured thereby. The method includes forming a polysulfone layer by applying a solution including a mixed solvent containing two or more solvents having different solubility parameter values to a surface of a porous support; and forming an active layer on the polysulfone layer.

Abstract: Asymmetric membranes comprising a first asymmetric porous zone including a first porous asymmetry that increases from the first exterior surface through the first porous zone of the bulk, and a second asymmetric porous zone including a second porous asymmetry that increases from the second exterior surface through the second porous zone of the bulk, wherein the first average pore size is larger than the second average pore size, as well as methods of making and using the membranes, are disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided a method of manufacturing a reverse osmosis membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane manufactured thereby. The method includes forming a polysulfone layer by applying a solution including a mixed solvent containing two or more solvents having different solubility parameter values to a surface of a porous support; and forming an active layer on the polysulfone layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for use in fluid purification, particularly to a membrane for use in fluid purification, the membrane comprising a porous basal layer in the form of polysulfone (PSF); a multitude of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersed within the basal layer; and a top layer in the form of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The disclosure extends to a method of manufacturing the device.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an intermediate filtering membrane comprising: a filtering membrane having a charged or polar surface; and a transiently coupled charged compound, wherein the charged compound has an opposite charge to the membrane charge. Likewise, provided herein are methods and kits utilizing the intermediate membrane for various filtering membranes operations.

Abstract: Provided are thin film composite membrane structures comprising: a selective membrane layer for ion rejection attached to a support layer, the support layer comprising a multi-zone microfiltration membrane comprising: a porous support material; and at least two microfiltration zones, where a first zone comprises a first membrane and a second zone that is attached to the first zone and that coats at least a portion of the porous support material. Thin film composite membrane structures may be provided in reverse osmosis systems or nanofiltration systems. Also, thin film composite membrane structures may be provided in direct osmotic concentration systems, forward osmosis systems, or pressure retarded osmosis systems.

Abstract: The invention provides a graphene derivative composite membrane and method for fabricating the same. The graphene derivative composite membrane comprises a support membrane made of porous polymer and a plurality of graphene derivative layers disposed on the support membrane wherein the distance between adjacent graphene derivative layers is about 0.3˜1.5 nm and the total thickness of the plurality of graphene derivative layers is more than 100 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides modified polysulfones substituted in one or more of the phenyl rings by functional groups and membranes composed of the modified polysulfones. Also provided are methods for the preparation of monodispersed nanoporous polymeric membranes. The membranes are useful for reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and ultrafiltration, particularly for purification of water.

Abstract: A separation matrix comprises a porous surface layer; and a bulk porous support, wherein both the porous surface layer and the bulk porous support comprising a block copolymer. The block copolymer comprises A-B or A-B-A repeating units, wherein A and B at each occurrence are two different blocks of oligomer, or polymer. A structural unit of block A is derived from one or more atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)-active monomer or oligomer and a structural unit of block B is derived from a thermoplastic ATRP-active macro initiator. A poly dispersity index of the block copolymer is at least about 2.

Abstract: Hierarchical porous membranes suitable for use in oil/water separation processes are provided. The membranes described herein are particularly well suited for separating trace amounts of water (e.g., no greater than 3 wt % water content, no greater than 1 wt % water content, or 50-1000 ppm water) from oil in droplets less than 1 um in size. The membranes have a wide range of applications, including deep seep oil exploration, oil purification, and oil spill cleanup.

Abstract: A biocompatible polymer composition which includes a matrix material and at least one of an isoflavone and a flavone at least partially dispersed in the matrix material is suited to use in a membrane for hemodialysis and other in vivo and in vitro applications.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To provide a polymeric porous hollow fiber membrane which exhibits excellent fractionation performance and excellent permeability in treatment of a variety of aqueous fluids and also shows sufficient strength when incorporated into a module or used to treat a fluid, and which is excellent in aging stability in these performances and characteristics and is also excellent in membrane performance recoverability by washing, and which is especially suitable for treatment of a polyphenol-containing beverage and is expected to effectively harmonize the flavor of such a beverage.

Abstract: Synthetic membranes for the removal, isolation or purification of substances from a liquid. The membranes include at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer. 5-40 wt.-% of particles having an average particles size of between 0.1 and 15 ?m are entrapped. The membrane has a wall thickness of below 150 ?m. Methods for preparing the membranes in various geometries, and use of the membranes for the adsorption, isolation and/or purification of substances from a liquid are explored.

Abstract: The invention relates to extracorporeal blood circuits, and components thereof (e.g., hollow fiber membranes, potted bundles, and blood tubing), including 0.005% to 10% (w/w) surface modifying macromolecule. The extracorporeal blood circuits have an antithrombogenic surface and can be used in hemofiltration, hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, hemoconcentration, blood oxygenation, and related uses.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a filtration material and a method for fabricating the same. The filtration material includes a supporting layer, and a composite layer, wherein the composite layer includes an ionic polymer and an interfacial polymer. Particularly, the ionic polymer and the interfacial polymer are intertwined with each other, resulting from ionic bonds formed between the ionic polymer and the interfacial polymer.

Abstract: A microfiltration membrane comprising (a) an asymmetric layer, (b) an isometric layer, and (c) an interface layer between the asymmetric layer and the isometric layer, the interface layer having a first portion contacting the asymmetric layer and a second portion contacting the isometric layer; wherein, (i) the asymmetric layer has a region contacting the first portion of the interface layer, the region including cells having a first porous structure; (ii) the isometric layer has a region contacting the second portion of the interface layer, the region including cells having a second porous structure; the first porous structure being larger than the second porous structure; and the first portion of the interface layer comprises cells having the first porous structure, and the second portion of the interface layer comprises cells having the second porous structure, and methods of making and using the membrane, are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow-fiber membrane for ultrafiltration made from a hydrophobic aromatic sulfone polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer, the membrane having an open-pore separating layer on the lumen side, an adjoining supporting layer with asymmetric, sponge-like pore structure without finger pores and an outer layer adjoining the supporting layer towards the outer surface. The separating layer has a cutoff between 20 000 and 200 000 daltons, a thickness of max. 10% of the membrane thickness and an essentially isotropic pore structure. The size of the pores in the supporting layer initially increases up to a zone with maximum pore size, and then decreases towards the outer layer, and the outer layer exhibits a thickness of 10 to 30% of the wall thickness and an essentially isotropic pore structure. The mean size of the pores in the outer layer is larger than in the separating layer, but smaller than in the supporting layer.

Abstract: Method for preparing a filtration membrane and a filtration membrane prepared by the method. According to one embodiment, the method involves casting a polymer solution onto a porous support to form a coated support. The coated support is then quenched to form a membrane/support composite, and the membrane/support composite is then dried. Next, a first end of a first piece of adhesive tape is applied to the membrane side of the composite, and the second end of the first piece of adhesive tape is applied to a first rotatable winder. In addition, a first end of a second piece of adhesive tape is applied to the support side of the composite, and the second end of the second piece of adhesive tape is applied to a second rotatable winder. The two winders are then rotated so as to pull apart the membrane from the support.

Abstract: An anion transport membrane is provided enabling efficient anion exchange across the membrane, which could be used in applications like fuel cells, water electrolyzers, or water filtration systems. The structural membrane morphology is based on a hydrophobic polysulfone membrane backbone and co-grafted thereon hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) grafts and anion conducting quaternary ammonium species. This structure defines a bi-continuous morphology with locally phase-separated hydrophobic-hydrophilic domains, and a co-localization of the anion conducting quaternary ammonium species with respect to the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) grafts enabling efficient and continuous ion transport channels for facilitating anion transport.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane that can be used in treatment in various aqueous fluids such as water purification, beverage treatment, seawater clarification, and that has excellent fractionation characteristics and permeability, while deterioration of its performance due to passage of time is minimized, and that has excellent recovery of the membrane-separation characteristics by cleaning. The main feature of the hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane of the present invention is that the specific surface area of the membrane surface to which raw water is supplied falls within the range from not less than 1.10 to not greater than 1.55. The present invention also provides a process for producing a hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane, wherein a heat treatment is conducted under the condition that the membrane having a residual organic solvent content of not greater than 300 mg/g.

Abstract: Use of a porous hollow fiber membrane for producing a clarified biomedical culture medium by a method including a filtration step of distributing a biomedical culture medium over the porous hollow fiber membrane, a tube wall of the hollow fiber membrane being constituted of a blend of a hydrophobic polymer and polyvinylpyrrolidone. A content of the polyvinylpyrrolidone is not lower than 0.2% by mass and not higher than 3% by mass relative to a total mass of the porous hollow fiber membrane, and, when the tube wall is divided in a membrane-thickness direction equally into three regions, a content of the polyvinylpyrrolidone in an outer circumferential region including an outer face is higher than a content of the polyvinylpyrrolidone in an inner circumferential region including an inner face, and an average pore size in the inner face is larger than an average pore size in the outer face.

Abstract: A membrane comprising a blend of a sulfonated poly(aryl ether) and a phenyl amine compound along with methods for making and using the same. Many additional embodiments are described including applications for such membranes.

Abstract: An organic/inorganic composite membrane may include hydrophilic inorganic particles dispersed in an organic polymer matrix having finger-like pores. The hydrophilic inorganic particles may be present at a higher concentration near one surface of the membrane having a higher density than the other surface of the membrane having a lower density.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for composite membranes which may include a porous graphene layer in contact with a porous support substrate. In various examples, a surface of the porous support substrate may include at least one of: a thermo-formed polymer characterized by a glass transition temperature, a woven fibrous membrane, and/or a nonwoven fibrous membrane. Examples of the composite membranes permit the use of highly porous woven or nonwoven fibrous support membranes instead of intermediate porous membrane supports. In several examples, the composite membranes may include porous graphene layers directly laminated onto the fibrous membranes via the thermo-formed polymers. The described composite membranes may be useful for separations, for example, of gases, liquids and solutions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a composite semipermerable membrane and a method for producing the same. The composite semipermeable membrane comprises a microporous support membrane and a separation functional layer provided on the microporous support membrane, wherein the separation functional layer contains a condensation product produced by condensation of at least one selected from the group consisting of ions of trialkoxysilanes each having an imidazolium group and a conjugated base of a polymer having at least one acidic group. The composite semipermeable membrane achieves excellent selective separation of divalent ions over monovalent ions, and is suitable for use in various water treatment fields such as seawater desalination and drinking water production.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to gas separation membranes and, in particular, to high selectivity fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer-comprising polymeric blend membranes for gas separations. The polymeric blend membrane comprises a fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer and a second polymer different from the fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer. The fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymers in the current invention are copolymers comprising 10 to 99 mol % 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene-based structural units and 1 to 90 mol % vinylidene fluoride-based structural units. The second polymer different from the fluorinated ethylene-propylene polymer is selected from a low cost, easily processable glassy polymer.

Abstract: Method for producing this membrane from a casting solution comprising the hydrophobic first sulfone polymer and the hydrophilic second polymer in a solvent system, the method comprising the steps of pouring the casting solution, conditioned to a molding temperature, onto a carrier to form a film, which carrier has a temperature that is higher in comparison to the molding temperature, conveying the film through a climate-controlled zone, initiating the coagulation in a coagulation bath for the formation of a membrane structure, withdrawing the membrane structure from the carrier with a speed that is increased in comparison to the carrier speed, stabilizing, extracting, and subsequently drying the membrane.

Abstract: This invention relates to heterogenous pore polymer nanotube membranes useful in filtration, such as reverse osmosis desalination, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and gas separation.

Abstract: A hydrophilic filtration membrane having high chemical resistance, high strength, high water permeability and high blocking performance, and being superior in fouling resistance is provided. A hydrophilic filtration membrane containing a hydrophilic polyethersulfone having a contact angle of 65 to 74 degree, a molecular weight of 10,000 to 100,000, and the number of hydroxy groups of 0.6 to 1.4 per 100 polymerization repeating units. The hydrophilic filtration membrane may additionally contain a polyvinylpyrrolidone having a molecular weight of 10,000 to 1,300,000.

Abstract: A separation membrane includes a membrane comprising a polymer, characterized in that a functional layer is formed on the surface in one side of the membrane, the peak area percentage of carbon derived from ester group measured by the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) on the surface of the preceding functional layer is 0.1% (by atomic number) or more but not more than 10 (% by atomic number), and the peak area percentage of carbon derived from ester group measured by the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) on the surface opposite to the functional layer is not more than 10 (% by atomic number). A separation membrane module suffering from little sticking of organic matters, proteins, platelets and so on is provided with the separation membrane as a built-in membrane.

Abstract: A hydrophilic semipermeable hollow-fiber membrane for blood treatment, with an integrally asymmetric structure based on a synthetic polymer. The hollow-fiber membrane possesses on its inner surface a separating layer and an adjoining open-pored supporting layer, and has an ultrafiltration rate in albumin solution of 5 to 25 ml/(h·m2·mmHg). The hollow-fiber membrane is free from pore-stabilizing additives and has a maximum sieving coefficient for albumin of 0.005 and a sieving coefficient for cytochrome c that satisfies the equation SCCC?5·10?5·UFRAlb3?0.004·UFRAlb2+1.081·UFRAlb?0.25.

Abstract: There are provided a method of manufacturing a reverse osmosis membrane and a reverse osmosis membrane manufactured thereby. The method includes forming a polysulfone layer by applying a solution including a mixed solvent containing two or more solvents having different solubility parameter values to a surface of a porous support; and forming an active layer on the polysulfone layer.

Abstract: Membranes are made from polymers and heat treated so that they have at least two zones with pores of different sizes. Pores with a smaller size have a lower molecular weight cut off than pores with a larger size. Zones with pores of different sizes may also be made by coating portions of membranes with polymer coatings. Membranes with pores of different sizes may be used in dialyzers for hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, and other hemodialysis procedures. The membranes may also be used in other separation processes.

Abstract: This invention relates to heterogenous pore polymer nanotube membranes useful in filtration, such as reverse osmosis desalination, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and gas separation.

Abstract: Improved methods for reducing boron concentration in seawater or brackish water, while simultaneously maintaining or improving the salt rejection of membrane and flow performance of polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membranes include contacting the water with a composite membrane comprising moieties derived from an aromatic sulfonyl halide, a heteroaromatic sulfonyl halide, a sulfinyl halide; a sulfenyl halide; a sulfuryl halide; a phosphoryl halide; a phosphonyl halide; a phosphinyl halide; a thiophosphoryl halide; a thiophosphonyl halide, an isocyanate, a urea, a cyanate, an aromatic carbonyl halide, an epoxide or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A conformal coating that resists fouling by waterborne contamination in aquatic environments, a method for fabricating the coating, and a filter having such a coating are disclosed. The coating comprises a hydrophilic polymer and a surfactant wherein the surfactant undergoes a phase change upon exposure to a saline solution. Also disclosed are in situ methods for regenerating anti-fouling filters having the fouling resistant coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for forming microporous membranes. More specifically, vapor induced phase separation techniques are used for forming multizone microporous membranes having improved material throughput.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical material and a blood purification apparatus each having high anti-thrombotic properties and high safety. The apparatus is produced by incorporating therein a medical material which has a hydrophilic copolymerization polymer present on a surface thereof which is to be in contact with blood, wherein particulate protuberances each having a particle diameter of 50 nm or more are present on the surface which is to be in contact with blood at a density of 3 particles/?m2 or less and the relaxation time of adsorbed water in the hydrophilic copolymerization polymer is 2.5×10?8 seconds or shorter and 5.0×10?10 seconds or longer at ?40° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to positively charged nanofiltration (NF) membranes comprising a substrate layer (S) based on a sulfonated polymer and a positively charged film layer (F) on top of said substrate, and to a method for their preparation. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to nanofiltration processes making use of said composite membrane.